Here’s the problem: this is a can of worms. If contagion was limited to Sir David Murray and other Murray Group executives, there may be more “appetite” to analyse what went wrong and what to do about it.
Rangers were a rogue football team, operating a tax scheme out with the law, failing to disclose appropriate documentation to HMRC, the SPL and SFA. Legal responsibility for the club’s actions lies with all directors, not just the majority owner. They have collective responsibility to ensure business is conducted appropriately. David King, Paul Murray, Alistair Johnston and former SFA president Campbell Ogilvie, were all Rangers directors during the EBT and DOS years.
The SPFL (formerly SPL) are also implicated. They set terms of reference for what became the Lord Nimmo Smith Commission, then amended those terms to only include matters which were, at that time, regarded as legal, explicitly excluding matters already confirmed as illegal.
They then failed to present evidence to Nimmo Smith of the five matters Rangers admitted guilt on during the First Tier Tribunal process, preferring only to present matters that were in dispute, but (temporarily) found in Rangers favour.
Having done this, they instructed their lawyer not to ask for an opportunity to appeal if the pending HMRC appeal was upheld. Instead, closing the book on a procedural appeal.
The SFA executives side just along the corridor from their SPFL counterparts. Yesterday they issued a remarkable statement:
“Specifically, Senior Counsel was asked to anticipate whether a determination in favour of HMRC, as announced today, could imply that there had been a breach of the Scottish FA’s Disciplinary Rules as they applied at the time of the EBT payments.
The clear opinion of Senior Counsel is that there is a very limited chance of the Scottish FA succeeding in relation to any complaint regarding this matter”.
I refer you to SFA Disciplinary Rule 71, Article 94.1:
“No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player, match official, or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall bring the game into disrepute.”
They are asking you to believe that Senior Counsel told them no Rangers official brought the game into disrepute as a consequence of this matter. A matter which has left over £100m debt and hundreds of creditors unpaid, saw 55 players incorrectly registered, and one of the largest clubs in the country liquidated – the consequences of which will be permanent, no matter your view on Newco/same club.
All for an issue which Rangers directors gave evidence in court that the EBT scheme was undertaken to allow them to sign players they would otherwise be unable to pay. Ensuring an illegal sporting advantage.
Possible SFA sanctions for this include fines of up to £1m and/or expulsion from the game.
Sorry, but this is not a tenable position. The game was massively brought into disrepute; to issue a statement claiming otherwise just adds the stench of cover up to an already dreadful state. And bringing the game into disrepute is just scratching the surface, without going into consequences of the club’s actions on competitions.
I question the scope and remit given to Counsel, which was clearly limited in order to make it possible to deliver this statement. Who issued that scope and why it blinded Counsel to the clear matter of disrepute is another question to answer.
Executives at Hampden will have scoured news coverage this morning in the hope that this this will blow over. Scottish newspaper, TV and radio coverage is irrelevant. Instead, they should be looking to establish a recovery position for our game. This is not finished.
Those implicated by the contagion – the “heavily conflicted” do not get to decide that no action is to be taken; Scotland is not yet a Banana Republic.
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Struggling to get through to ticket office. Two relocated season cards should have been received by now but nothing so far.
Has anyone else the same problem or am I worrying too soon?
Irregardless of falling circulation figures. democracy needs a traditional ‘free’, responsible, and ‘accountable’ press.
The alternative might just turn out to be a bigger and nastier nightmare.
A CEILER GONOF RUST on 7TH JULY 2017 10:10 AM
Well done Aberdeen support in their game v Arbroath last night
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/aberdeen/aberdeen-fans-fly-protest-banner-after-rangers-verdict-1-4497375
Hopefully their support can pressure their club into a response.
==========================================================================
Hear Hear
Yes I listen to BR . We will sign someone once we are in CL….. Is basically what he said. I would like to have had signings lined up months ago. We needed a centre half as we only have one decent one..Also could do with a decent keeper back up…do you want De Vries in goals?
MARADOMINIC on 7TH JULY 2017 10:08 AM
We play with one up centre forward front so why do we need to sign a third striker if we already have two (unless one of the current two are leaving)?
The manager has said he wants a playmaker, a centre half and a right sided attacking player to replace Roberts. He has also said he hopes to get one in before the CL qualifiers begin (next Friday) with any other business taking place at the end of the window when more quality becomes available down south.
Last season we qualified with what turned out to be the manager’s preferred centre back pairing unavailable due to injury. We had Ambrose and O’Connell playing centre defence in qualifiers as well as Lustig filling in. We had Janko at right back in games. Defensively, even with Boyata injured, we are far stronger than last season.
QUONNO:
Why did they go to so much effort to conceal the ‘side letters’ and lie about their existence?
thetimreaper on 7th July 2017 10:31 am
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH JULY 2017 10:29 AM
Interesting, we can only wonder if, for example a Mr Abramovic had engaged in a similar scheme down south, how the English hacks would have reacted. I think we know the answer.
————————————————————————-
Indeed. The English media have a fondness bringing certain rich and powerful characters down a peg or two (just certain ones mind). The Scottish media seem to have a blind spot there…
Quonno
HMRC said RFC’s behaviour iro of the side letters to De Boer and Flo that RFC said did not exist when they were asked in 2005 if they did was fraudulent or negligence.
However HMRC did not pursue the fraudulent angle because demonstrable negligence was sufficient for HMRC to pursue payment outside the normal 6 year bar that applied in normal circumstances (like you getting a more favourabe tax code and it not being realised until 7 years later).
Fraud as the CW trial has shown is difficult to prove so with the easier route available HMRC took it.
However in a Timeline on the Wee Tax Case that is ready to go to Res12 signatories there is an e mail in which an HMRC official expresses the view that RFC might be guilty of fraud.
MARADOMINIC
That’s not actually what he said , he said we were trying to get one player in and the rest of the business would be done near the end of the window.
So why do you think Brendan didn’t have his signings all lined up months ago??
Cos he’s pish or because you’re in a panic??
Hail HAil
ASTORMHACHROI
I couldn’t agree more. An independent and free investigative press should be a bulwark against malfeasance by the authorities,governmental or otherwise.
It is for that reason their views have traditionally carried so much weight.
However,when they are compromised or complicit,or downright crooked,their views still carry that much weight through historical precedence.
And when,on one particular topic,that view is reported across the entire industry,well,you can’t blame people for believing it must be true.
Let’s face it,we have the internet to thank for the facts about Rangers coming out. Years ago,when we didn’t have that,we had to rely on proper journalism.
Because back then,we could rely on it.
Couldn’t we? I wonder…
THELURKINTIM @ 8:39 AM,
Oops… Quite… no one accused that chap of a Common Sense approach… Senseless (as in knocking somone:) perhaps but as you say… wouldn’t argue with him.
No – meant The Celtic Legend of Course…
Hail Hail
Quonno,
Awe yer shouting will force BMCUWP into early retirement….shame dat ;-))
Philbhoy,
A wiz havin a nap….u noe awe aboot dat….only 68…..ffs a pegged yae at in yer 50’s….so….wer’s yer fountain of yoof ;-))
H.H.
The ball is rolling.
PROFESSIONAL Response from @arabtrust1909
https://t.co/ilFHqkHyJ7
BMCUW – I have long hold the view that those involved with football in Scotland – be it players journalists referee’s SFA delegates whoever they were either neutral with moral fibre or bigoted Huns – sadly the later outnumber the former
67ECW
Excellent response from DU fans
Best wishes to HAMINX (my own work there) today.And many,many years together.
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/strip-the-titles?bucket=&source=twitter-share-button
Sign the petition and pass it on bhoys
https://twitter.com/scottishfsa/status/882708500450881536
BRTH 7:55AM
“Boycott the commercial sponsors of the organisations concerned. Get your pen out, write a letter to William Hill, Specsavers, or whoever and tell them that you will not give them your custom because they are associated with a corrupt and dysfunctional sporting body. It will only take a few hundred such letters to bring the whole thing down.”
Great idea, could someone (ie you BRTH!) make up a draft letter with contact details/addresses and post it on here that could be used as a template which we could rejiggle a bit to personalise? Or we could all meet up and march round Hampden once daily and on Sunday go round 7 times and toot our trumpets. Think both options could work.
Was it Doc?
that expressed my thoughts on this….the SMSM are deliberately emotively talking about stripping the titles….that’s just a squirrel…..look ;-))
If history is to reflect the truth then a new enquiry is needed to look into the EBT years, apply the Association rules…..all those games were 0-3 against RFC(IL)….then amend….but as P67 sais…..what a can of worms we weave ;-))
FTSFA/FTSPFL
Hail Hail
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS:
The paradox is the old press was less malevolent than the new might be.
Any cowboy with a keyboard can purport to be an investigative journalist these days. JJ does and we all know how much he plagiarises diametrical to his vehement claims of ownership.
The growth of fake news has been hastened by the internet.
The future of reported truth via the internet is a hypothetical lotto wish. It is not going to happen without an authority able to police and prosecute accountability.
How is that possible?
Prejudice spawns bias, spawns myopia, nurtures division and nukes collective objectivity and good.
I reiterate, democracy needs a free, prejudice free, press, in the traditional style, that is truly accountable – proportionately – for its published reporting, and answerable in the first instance to a parent private company – with assets of value – that can be arrested, in part, or in full, should it fall foul of acceptable accuracy or decency.
We don’t have that at the moment in Scotland I know, but I dread the day that keyboard warriors, without arrestable assets, or indemnity insurance, become the MSM.
Do you remember when Rangers were getting their water free from the local Church of Scotland and not paying their utility bills?
I do.
The internet is/can be a malice monstor.
THELURKINTIM
I have a lovely wife and a beautiful daughter who keep me running after them awe day evry day.
Disny half help keep ye young!
Neither of them drive so lots of days and nights without a drink.
Other than that life is good.
Heading for Crete on Sunday so that should top up my youthful tan!
67ECW
Tokenism aside,that has largely been the case.
It’s strange that we know the declared allegiances of so many Scottish journalists and of so few Scottish referees.
(The opposite is the case in England,btw.)
And yet it tends to be only the East Coast journos whose actions back their words. There is no doubt who such as Cosgrove,Spence-even John Fairgrieve-support or supported.
Yet every West Coast journo brought up at Love St,Fir Park,Broomfield,Love St again and again,btw,and every other smaller WoS ground turns out to be a hun wi a typewriter.
Me,long gave up believing in coincidences. About the same time I got that mental illness,paranoia…
Through A Green Glass Brightly on 7th July 2017 11:14 am
The wall of Jericho were a doddle to bring down….. compared to the institutionally biased FTSFA ;-))
wergonnaneedabiggertrumpetCSC
Hail Hail
Im trying to imagine what’s going on inside the huns’ heads just now.A mix of seething anger,malevolence,thirst for violence,and utter,utter,agonising despair.Glad i’m not a peepil.
We signed Pddy yet?
What will have to forced through first; reform of the SFA or review of RFC cheating?
*Paddy
It’s got to the stage now where we all (well I did) thought It would go.
THE SMSM
VS
THE SOCIAL MEDIA
Should be a very interesting , and a historic moment for both, no matter which way it goes.
Philbhoy,
Enjoy Crete….it has an ancient history, if yer of a mind to explore….unless u wer there? ;-))
MinoanKnossosCSC
Hail Hail
ASTORMHACHROI
Sadly,market researchers will be employed by struggling newspapers to identify the REQUIREMENTS of their remaining core readership.
The industry has largely given up on regaling what it had,and thinks it can only survive by retaining what is left.
That means that by and large newspapers are no longer in the business of informing their readers,which might allow them to view things differently,but of confirming those views already held.
Days are gone of buying a paper to see what’s in it-the title will give it away.
Or of reading new information-too challenging.
Thirty years ago,we laughed at shock jocks. Well,their ilk control much of the MSM now The only voices allowed are those who play to the plan and stick to the agenda.
https://mobile.twitter.com/CouldbeYue/status/883272389295001600/photo/1
;))
Conceived and rolled out as a matter of club policy.
Self harm? YES
The slow tickin d(ebt) bomb was planted as advised by Murray(87% shareholder) to his board
Son of tax evaders like Murray dont happened to come across ebts they get there after their previous wheeze/scam/cheat is advised as illegal/a cheat so will close as was the case with discount option scheme.
So Dave.
What was your cheat prior to that?
Gazza, steven,stevens, haterley all paid offshore
No hiding place for cheats
Justice
A full judicial review of Cheat fc since Sir David of Cheat took over in 1988.(come on you dont think it goes back? Ah dae!)
Resultant 0-3 defeat for every game a recipient of any illegal payments
Full investigation into payments to non cheat fc personnel like Sourness and Walturd.
A simple explanation of liquidation to Cheat fc fans and why they were “accepted into” our league as a result of liquidation.
The supreme court decision was 21st century company law on show and to think we still live with the impediment of 19th century blazer/bowlin club squintyfyin their crookery.
I know who I am backing.
The hun can be a nasty bit o work
Alas they let their club die.they done nowt, naddder, zilch (ok ok red card for liquidation) as their heirarchy lied, as rtc says thats why they died.
:-)
HH
THELURKINTIM
Thanks!
Know the places you mean. Well worth a revisit.
Take care.
BMCUW – just because you are paranoid- doesn’t mean they are not out to get you
67ECW
Davido,
A review of LNS with all of the facts out in the open would be a good starting point….then to hammer home the nails…..Res12 fortified with the legal revelations from the CW trial ;-))
religiousimageryCSC
FTSFA/FTSPFL
Hail Hail
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS:
Without certifiable ‘Press’ who are we going to rely on to give us certifiable truthful news. The spotty wee keyboard jerk who never opens his curtains and thinks an embassy coupon is a credit card?
I know our press is lamentable but I do lament its downfall, aware that greed, prejudice and prejudiced agenda were its marrow.
What a choice to have to choose. Lies by a university educated nyaff trying to pay back his uni loan who’ll put his name to anything for fear of his income or lies by internet journalist buskers who hyper-bole and fake to vouge de jour?
What a choice….
This season has been incredible, to go undefeated on the 50th Anniversary of Lisbon has been incredible. Even better I got to see most of it with my best Celtic pal, Minx1888
Today, in front of our family and friends and in the eyes of God we solidify that bond.
Thank you for all of your kind words.
Hail Hail and God Bless.
Quite the read back from last night. If crapping on someone’s face passes for fair comment, I am clearly going to have to up (lower?) my game, if I am ever to achieve my dream of one day getting a post deleted.
Best wishes to the happy couple today. I have not had the good fortune to meet them in person, but as demonstrated by affection in which the are held by everyone on CQN, they are two of the really good ones. And When two lovely people find each other, it truly is one of God’s blessing. So my wish for Hamilton and Minx Is a long, happy and Blessed life together.